dampen
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C1 verb /ˈdæmpən/

dampen

humecter, atténuer
Meaning
to make something slightly wet; to make something less strong, active, or intense
Example
The rain dampened the excitement of the outdoor concert.
La pluie dampenée l'excitation du concert en plein air.
C1 verb /dɪsˈkleɪm/

disclaim

démentir
Meaning
to deny responsibility or connection with something
Example
The company disclaimed responsibility for the accident.
L'entreprise a démenti toute responsabilité pour l'accident.
C1 verb /dɪˈtɛst/

detest

détester
Meaning
To dislike intensely or hate.
Example
I detest waking up early on weekends.
Je déteste me lever tôt le week-end.
C1 noun /ˌdep.rɪˈveɪ.ʃən/

deprivation

privation, pénurie, manque
Meaning
The damaging lack of material benefits considered to be basic necessities in a society.
Example
Sleep deprivation affects cognitive function.
La privation de sommeil affecte la fonction cognitive.
C1 adjective /ˈdaʊ.ər/

dour

sévère
Meaning
relentlessly severe, stern, or gloomy in manner or appearance
Example
His dour expression made the meeting uncomfortable.
Son expression sévère rendait la réunion inconfortable.
C1 noun /ˌdɪsəˈbiːdiəns/

disobedience

désobéissance
Meaning
failure or refusal to obey rules, laws, or authority
Example
The child's disobedience worried his parents.
La désobéissance de l'enfant inquiéta ses parents.
C1 noun dɪˈfleɪʃən

deflation

déflation
Meaning
Reduction of the general level of prices in an economy.
Example
Deflation often leads to decreased consumer spending.
La déflation entraîne souvent une diminution des dépenses des consommateurs.
C1 verb /dɪˈsɛm.ɪ.neɪt/

disseminate

diffuser
Meaning
To spread or give out something, especially news, information, ideas, etc., to a lot of people.
Example
Social media helps to disseminate information quickly.
Les réseaux sociaux aident à diffuser rapidement les informations.
C1 noun /ˌdiː.mɑːˈkeɪ.ʃən/

Demarcation

démarcation
Meaning
the action of fixing the boundary or limits of something; separation or division
Example
The demarcation between public and private land was clearly marked.
La délimitation entre les terres publiques et privées était clairement marquée.
C1 noun /ˈdræm.ə.tɪst/

dramatist

dramaturge
Meaning
a person who writes plays
Example
Shakespeare is one of the greatest dramatists in history.
Shakespeare est l'un des plus grands dramaturges de l'histoire.
C1 noun /ˈdiːviəns/

deviance

déviance
Meaning
Behavior that differs from accepted social or moral standards.
Example
The book studies deviance in urban youth culture.
Le livre étudie la déviance dans la culture urbaine des jeunes.
C1 verb /dɪˈmiːn/

demean

dévaloriser
Meaning
to cause someone to lose dignity or respect
Example
The manager demeaned his employees with rude remarks.
Le gestionnaire a dévalorisé ses employés avec des remarques grossières.
C1 verb /dɪˈpɔːrt/

deport

déporter
Meaning
To expel a foreigner from a country, usually for legal or political reasons.
Example
The government decided to deport the illegal immigrants.
Le gouvernement a décidé de déporter les immigrés illégaux.
C1 noun dɪˈtætʃ.mənt

detachment

détachement
Meaning
The state of being objective or aloof; not being emotionally involved.
Example
Buddhist philosophy encourages detachment from material desires.
La philosophie bouddhiste encourage le détachement des désirs matériels.
C1 noun /ˌdɛtəˈneɪʃən/

detonation

détonation
Meaning
The act of exploding or causing something to explode.
Example
The sudden detonation shook the entire building.
La détonation soudaine a secoué tout le bâtiment.
C1 noun /ˈdɪm.pəl/

Dimple

fossette
Meaning
a small depression in the flesh, either one that exists permanently or one that forms when smiling
Example
Her charming dimples appeared whenever she smiled at the children.
Ses adorables fossettes apparaissaient chaque fois qu'elle souriait aux enfants.
C1 noun dɪˈskrep.ən.siz

discrepancies

divergence
Meaning
Differences between things that should be the same
Example
Discrepancies in regulations delay progress.
Les divergences dans les règlements retardent les progrès.
C1 adjective /diːˈsɛntrəlaɪzd/

decentralized

décentralisé
Meaning
Controlled by several local offices or authorities rather than one single one.
Example
The decentralized system allowed for more control at local levels.
Le système décentralisé a permis un plus grand contrôle au niveau local.
C1 noun /daɪˈvɜː.ʃən/

Diversion

détournement
Meaning
the action of turning something aside from its course; an activity that diverts the mind
Example
The road closure forced a diversion through the countryside for all travelers.
La fermeture de la route a forcé un détour à travers la campagne pour tous les voyageurs.
C1 adjective /dɪˈsɜːrnəbl/

discernible

discernable
Meaning
able to be seen, recognized, or understood
Example
There was a discernible change in his behavior.
Il y a eu un changement discernable dans son comportement.
C1 verb /daɪˈluːt/

dilute

diluer
Meaning
To make a liquid thinner or weaker by adding water or another solvent.
Example
You should dilute the juice with water before serving it to children.
Vous devez diluer le jus avec de l'eau avant de le servir aux enfants.
C1 noun /ˌdiː.kɒmpəˈzɪʃən/

decomposition

décomposition
Meaning
the process of decaying or breaking down into simpler parts
Example
The decomposition of leaves enriches the soil.
La décomposition des feuilles enrichit le sol.
C1 noun ˌdep.əˈzɪʃ.ən

deposition

dépôt, action de déposer quelque chose
Meaning
The action of depositing something; the laying down of matter by a natural process.
Example
River deposition leads to the formation of new landmasses.
La déposition des rivières mène à la formation de nouvelles terres.
C1 phrase ˌdɪp.ləˈmæt.ɪk rɛz.əˈluː.ʃən

diplomatic resolution

résolution diplomatique
Meaning
A peaceful solution to conflicts through negotiation and diplomatic channels.
Example
A diplomatic resolution is necessary for peace.
Une résolution diplomatique est nécessaire pour la paix.
C1 adjective /dɪˈspɜːrst/

dispersed

dispersé
Meaning
Scattered or spread across a wide area.
Example
The dispersed population made it difficult to provide public services.
La population dispersée a rendu difficile la fourniture de services publics.
C1 adjective ˈdɪs.pər.ət

disparate

disparate
Meaning
containing elements very different from one another.
Example
Their opinions were disparate, leading to debates.
Leurs opinions étaient disparates, ce qui a conduit à des débats.
C1 noun /ˌdɜːrməˈtɑːlədʒi/

dermatology

dermatologie
Meaning
The branch of medicine concerned with the skin and its diseases.
Example
He studied dermatology at medical school.
Il a étudié la dermatologie à l'école de médecine.
C1 noun ˌdɪdʒɪˈnɛəreɪʃən

degeneration

dégénérescence
Meaning
The process of decline or deterioration in structure or function.
Example
The degeneration of brain cells leads to cognitive decline.
La dégénérescence des cellules cérébrales conduit à un déclin cognitif.
C1 noun /dɪˈmiːnər/

demeanor

comportement
Meaning
a person's outward behavior or appearance
Example
Her calm demeanor impressed everyone at the meeting.
Son comportement calme a impressionné tout le monde lors de la réunion.
C1 adjective /ˈdrɪəri/

dreary

morose / lugubre
Meaning
dull, bleak, and lifeless; depressing
Example
The long, dreary winter made everyone feel gloomy.
L'hiver long et lugubre a rendu tout le monde triste.
C1 noun /ˈdɑːrwɪnɪzəm/

darwinism

darwinisme
Meaning
the theory of biological evolution developed by Charles Darwin, emphasizing natural selection
Example
Darwinism revolutionized the way scientists understood the origin of species.
Le darwinisme a révolutionné la façon dont les scientifiques comprenaient l'origine des espèces.
C1 noun /ˈdaɪnəˌmoʊ/

dynamo

machine qui génère de l'électricité; une personne avec une grande énergie et enthousiasme
Meaning
A machine that generates electricity; a person with great energy and enthusiasm.
Example
She is the real dynamo behind the success of the company.
Elle est la véritable dynamo derrière le succès de l'entreprise.
C1 noun /dɪsˈɒn.ər/

Dishonour

honte
Meaning
a state of shame or disgrace; lack of honor or integrity; failure to fulfill obligations
Example
Breaking his promise brought dishonour to his name and family legacy.
Rompre sa promesse a apporté la honte à son nom et à l'héritage de sa famille.
C1 adjective /dɪˈʃɛvəld/

disheveled

désordonné
Meaning
Untidy, messy, or in disorder, especially of hair or clothing.
Example
He arrived with disheveled hair and wrinkled clothes.
Il est arrivé avec des cheveux désordonnés et des vêtements froissés.
C1 noun /ˌdaɪəˈrɑːmə/

diorama

diorama
Meaning
a three-dimensional model representing a scene, often with miniature figures
Example
The museum displayed a diorama of an ancient village.
Le musée a exposé un diorama d'un village ancien.
C1 verb /ˌdiːˈbʌŋk/

debunk

démystifier, exposer la fausseté de
Meaning
Expose the falseness or hollowness of (a myth, idea, or belief).
Example
Scientists debunked the myth that vaccines cause autism.
Les scientifiques ont démystifié le mythe selon lequel les vaccins causent l'autisme.
C1 noun /ˈded.lɑk/

Dead-lock

impasse; blocage
Meaning
a situation in which no progress is possible; complete standstill
Example
The negotiations reached a deadlock when neither side would compromise.
Les négociations ont atteint une impasse lorsque les deux parties ne voulaient pas faire de compromis.
C1 verb /ˌdɪsɪnˈtæŋɡl/

disentangle

démêler
Meaning
To free something or someone from a tangle or complication.
Example
She tried to disentangle her hair from the branches.
Elle a essayé de démêler ses cheveux des branches.
C1 noun /ˈdɛljuːdʒ/

deluge

inondation
Meaning
A severe flood; an overwhelming quantity of something.
Example
The town was hit by a deluge of rain in just a few hours.
La ville a été frappée par un déluge de pluie en quelques heures seulement.
C1 noun /dɪsˈsɜːrvɪs/

disservice

dommage
Meaning
A harmful action; something that does damage rather than help.
Example
Spreading false information is a disservice to the community.
Diffuser de fausses informations est un dommage pour la communauté.
C1 adjective /dɪˈskriːt/

discrete

discret
Meaning
individually separate and distinct
Example
The course is divided into three discrete modules.
Le cours est divisé en trois modules discrets.
C1 verb /dɪˈspɛns/

dispense

distribuer
Meaning
To distribute or provide something, especially in portions.
Example
The machine dispenses clean drinking water.
La machine distribue de l'eau potable propre.
C1 noun /ˈdaɪəˌlɛkt/

dialect

dialecte
Meaning
A particular form of a language spoken in a specific region or by a specific group.
Example
He speaks a dialect of Bengali that is common in rural areas.
Il parle un dialecte du bengali qui est courant dans les zones rurales.
C1 adjective /ˈdesələt/

Desolate

désert; solitaire; stérile
Meaning
deserted; lonely; barren
Example
The abandoned village looked desolate and empty.
Le village abandonné avait l'air désert et vide.
C1 verb /dɪsˈfɪɡjər/

disfigure

défigurer
Meaning
to spoil or damage the appearance of something
Example
The fire disfigured the old building.
Le feu a défiguré le vieux bâtiment.
C1 adjective /dæft/

daft

fou
Meaning
Silly or foolish.
Example
It was a daft idea to go hiking without water.
C'était une idée folle de partir en randonnée sans eau.
C1 adjective /dɪˈplɔːrəbl/

deplorable

déplorable
Meaning
deserving strong condemnation; shockingly bad in quality
Example
The refugees were living in deplorable conditions.
Les réfugiés vivaient dans des conditions déplorables.
C1 adjective /dɪˈreɪndʒd/

deranged

fou
Meaning
mentally disturbed or insane; behaving irrationally
Example
The deranged man shouted nonsense in the street.
L'homme fou a crié des absurdités dans la rue.
C1 noun /ˈdeɪ.li.ə/

Dahlia

dahlia
Meaning
a garden plant with brightly colored flowers that bloom in summer and autumn
Example
She planted colorful dahlias in her garden last summer.
Elle a planté des dahlias colorés dans son jardin l'été dernier.
C1 adjective /dɪˈsperɪŋ/

Despairing

désespérant
Meaning
feeling hopeless; in despair
Example
She felt despairing after losing her job.
Elle se sentait désespérée après avoir perdu son travail.
C1 noun /deɪˈbɑː.kəl/

debacle

débâcle
Meaning
A sudden and ignominious failure; a fiasco.
Example
The company's poor management led to a financial debacle.
La mauvaise gestion de l'entreprise a conduit à un débâcle financier.
C1 adjective /dɪˈfɪʃənt/

Deficient

déficient
Meaning
not having enough of a specified quality or ingredient; lacking or inadequate
Example
His diet was deficient in essential vitamins.
Son régime était déficient en vitamines essentielles.
C1 noun /ˌdɪsbɪˈliːvər/

disbeliever

incrédule
Meaning
a person who does not believe in something, especially a religion or idea
Example
He was called a disbeliever for rejecting the traditional faith.
Il a été appelé incrédule pour avoir rejeté la foi traditionnelle.
C1 verb, noun /dɪsˈkrɛdɪt/

discredit

discréditer
Meaning
To harm the reputation of someone or something; loss of respect or credibility.
Example
The scandal discredited the politician in the eyes of the public.
Le scandale a discrédité le politicien aux yeux du public.
C1 verb /ˌdɪsəˈsɛmbəl/

disassemble

démonter
Meaning
To take apart something into its separate pieces.
Example
He had to disassemble the computer to repair it.
Il a dû démonter l'ordinateur pour le réparer.
C1 verb /dɪˈsweɪd/

dissuade

dissuader
Meaning
To persuade someone not to do something.
Example
She tried to dissuade him from quitting his job.
Elle a essayé de le dissuader de quitter son travail.
C1 noun /dɪˈvɪnɪti/

divinity

divinité
Meaning
The quality or state of being divine; a deity.
Example
The priest spoke about the divinity of the soul.
Le prêtre a parlé de la divinité de l'âme.
C1 noun /ˈdrɪz.əl/

Drizzle

bruine
Meaning
light rain falling in very fine drops; a very light rainfall
Example
The gentle drizzle continued throughout the morning, making everything misty.
La douce bruine a continué tout au long de la matinée, rendant tout brumeux.
C1 adjective /dɪˈrɒɡətɔːri/

derogatory

dérogatoire
Meaning
Showing a critical or disrespectful attitude.
Example
The article contained derogatory comments about the politician.
L'article contenait des commentaires dérogatoires à propos du politicien.
C1 noun /ˈdel.ɪ.kə.si/

Delicacy

délicatesse; un plat délicat ou coûteux;
Meaning
fineness of texture or structure; a choice or expensive food; sensitivity in handling
Example
The chef prepared a local delicacy that was famous throughout the region.
Le chef a préparé une délicatesse locale qui était célèbre dans toute la région.
C1 noun /daɪˈsɛkʃən/

dissection

dissection
Meaning
the act of cutting apart or analyzing something in detail, especially a body or structure
Example
The dissection of the specimen revealed important details about its structure.
La dissection de l'échantillon a révélé des détails importants sur sa structure.
C1 noun /dɪˈfjuːʒən/

diffusion

diffusion
Meaning
the spreading of something more widely or the movement of particles from high to low concentration
Example
The diffusion of information on social media is rapid.
La diffusion de l'information sur les réseaux sociaux est rapide.
C1 verb /dɪˈkraɪ/

decry

dénoncer
Meaning
to publicly criticize or express strong disapproval of something
Example
Many activists decry the destruction of the rainforest.
De nombreux activistes dénoncent la destruction de la forêt tropicale.
C1 verb /dɪˈsɛləˌreɪt/

decelerate

ralentir
Meaning
to reduce speed; to slow down
Example
The car began to decelerate as it approached the traffic light.
La voiture a commencé à ralentir à l'approche du feu de circulation.
C1 adjective /ˈdɪs.ə.plɪ.ner.i/

Disciplinary

disciplinaire
Meaning
relating to discipline; intended to correct behavior
Example
The company took disciplinary action against the employee.
L'entreprise a pris des mesures disciplinaires contre l'employé.
C1 noun /ˈdɛspɒt/

despot

despote
Meaning
a ruler with absolute power, often ruling in a cruel or oppressive way
Example
The despot ruled the nation with fear and violence.
Le despote a dirigé la nation avec la peur et la violence.
C1 adjective /ˌdɪsɪnˈdʒɛnjʊəs/

disingenuous

fallacieux
Meaning
not candid or sincere; giving a false appearance of honesty or openness
Example
She gave a disingenuous excuse for missing the meeting.
Elle a donné une excuse fallacieuse pour ne pas assister à la réunion.
C1 noun /ˈdɪŋɡi/

dinghy

canot
Meaning
a small boat, often carried or towed by a larger vessel, used for short trips or as a lifeboat
Example
They rowed the dinghy back to the yacht.
Ils ont ramé le canot jusqu'au yacht.
C1 verb /diːˈkoʊd/

decode

décoder
Meaning
to convert a coded message into a readable form; to interpret meaning
Example
The software can decode the hidden message within seconds.
Le logiciel peut décoder le message caché en quelques secondes.
C1 adjective /dɪˈmɒnstrəbl/

demonstrable

démontrable
Meaning
clearly able to be shown or proven
Example
There was demonstrable evidence that he was innocent.
Il y avait des preuves démontrables qu'il était innocent.
C1 noun /diːˌtɒksɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/

detoxification

détoxification
Meaning
The process of removing toxic substances from a living organism.
Example
Detoxification helps to cleanse the body of harmful substances.
La détoxification aide à nettoyer le corps des substances nuisibles.
C1 verb dɪˈsaɪ.fɚ

decipher

déchiffrer, traduire, interpréter
Meaning
To convert something written in code into normal language; to succeed in understanding the meaning of something.
Example
It took hours to decipher the ancient script.
Il a fallu des heures pour déchiffrer l'écriture ancienne.
C1 noun dɪˌzɝː.t̬ə.fɪˈkeɪ.ʃən

desertification

désertification
Meaning
The process by which fertile land becomes desert, typically as a result of drought, deforestation, or inappropriate agriculture.
Example
Deforestation accelerates desertification.
La déforestation accélère la désertification.
C1 verb /dɪsˈpærɪdʒ/

disparage

dénigrer
Meaning
to criticize someone or something in a way that shows a lack of respect
Example
It is unfair to disparage people for their opinions.
Il est injuste de dénigrer les gens pour leurs opinions.
C1 verb /diːˈfɒrɪst/

deforest

déboiser
Meaning
to clear an area of trees, usually on a large scale
Example
The region has been heavily deforested for agriculture.
La région a été fortement déboisée pour l'agriculture.
C1 verb /dɪˈfeɪs/

deface

défigurer
Meaning
to spoil the surface or appearance of something, especially by writing or drawing on it
Example
The vandals defaced the wall with graffiti.
Les vandales ont défiguré le mur avec des graffitis.
C1 verb /diːm/

deem

considérer, juger
Meaning
to regard or consider in a specified way
Example
The project was deemed a success by the board.
Le projet a été jugé un succès par le conseil.
C1 noun /ˈdæmpər/

damper

quelque chose qui réduit ou diminue la force, l'effet ou l'excitation
Meaning
something that reduces or lessens the force, effect, or excitement
Example
The cancellation of the trip put a damper on their enthusiasm.
L'annulation du voyage a réduit leur enthousiasme.
C1 noun ˈdaɪ.nə.sti

dynasty

dynastie
Meaning
A line of hereditary rulers of a country; a succession of people from the same family who play a prominent role in business, politics, or another field.
Example
The Ming dynasty ruled China for centuries.
La dynastie Ming a régné sur la Chine pendant des siècles.
C1 adjective /dɪˈlɪriəs/

delirious

délirant
Meaning
in an extremely disturbed or excited state of mind, often due to illness or emotion
Example
He was delirious with fever and kept muttering nonsense.
Il était délirant de fièvre et murmurait des absurdités.
C1 noun /ˈderˌdevəl/

daredevil

courageux imprudent
Meaning
A person who enjoys doing dangerous or risky things.
Example
The stunt was performed by a famous daredevil.
L'acrobatie a été réalisée par un célèbre imprudent.
C1 verb /daɪˈɡrɛs/

digress

s'écarter temporairement du sujet principal
Meaning
To leave the main subject temporarily in speech or writing.
Example
The professor began to digress from the main topic of the lecture.
Le professeur a commencé à digresser du sujet principal de la conférence.
C1 verb /dɪsˈɡrʌntl/

disgruntle

mécontenter
Meaning
to make someone dissatisfied or discontented
Example
The unfair treatment disgruntled the workers.
Le traitement injuste a mécontenté les travailleurs.
C1 noun /ˈdek.ə.dəns/

decadence

décadence
Meaning
Moral or cultural decline characterized by excessive indulgence in pleasure or luxury.
Example
The novel describes the decadence of the wealthy elite.
Le roman décrit la décadence de l'élite riche.
C1 noun /ˌdɪsəˈluːʃən/

dissolution

dissolution
Meaning
the act of formally ending or breaking apart something, such as an organization or marriage
Example
The dissolution of the company was announced yesterday.
La dissolution de l'entreprise a été annoncée hier.
C1 noun /dɪˈvaɪzər/

divisor

diviseur
Meaning
A number by which another number is divided.
Example
In the equation 12 ÷ 3, the number 3 is the divisor.
Dans l'équation 12 ÷ 3, le nombre 3 est le diviseur.
C1 noun ˌdjʊə.rəˈbɪl.ə.ti

durability

durabilité
Meaning
The ability to withstand wear, pressure, or damage; hard-wearing.
Example
The durability of materials affects performance.
La durabilité des matériaux affecte la performance.
C1 verb /dɛlv/

delve

approfondir
Meaning
To investigate deeply; to dig into a subject or area.
Example
The researcher delved into ancient manuscripts to find clues.
Le chercheur a approfondi les manuscrits anciens pour trouver des indices.
C1 adjective /dɪˈmɛntɪd/

demented

dément / irrationnel
Meaning
behaving irrationally due to mental illness or extreme excitement
Example
He looked demented after hearing the shocking news.
Il avait l'air dément après avoir entendu la nouvelle choquante.
C1 noun /dɜːrθ/

dearth

pénurie
Meaning
A scarcity or lack of something.
Example
There was a dearth of food during the famine.
Il y avait une pénurie de nourriture pendant la famine.
C1 adjective draʊt rɪˈzɪs.tənt

drought-resistant

résistant à la sécheresse
Meaning
Able to survive and grow despite limited water availability or drought conditions.
Example
Drought-resistant crops can survive in arid conditions.
Les cultures résistantes à la sécheresse peuvent survivre dans des conditions arides.
C1 adjective /ˈdɑːsəl/ or /ˈdəʊsaɪl/

docile

docile
Meaning
easily managed, taught, or controlled; submissive
Example
The docile puppy quickly learned new tricks.
Le chiot docile a rapidement appris de nouveaux tours.
C1 noun /ˌdɒmɪˈneɪʃən/

domination

domination
Meaning
the exercise of control or influence over someone or something
Example
The empire sought domination over its neighbors.
L'empire cherchait à exercer sa domination sur ses voisins.
C1 adjective /dɪˈspɪkəbl/

despicable

méprisable
Meaning
Deserving hatred and contempt; vile or shameful.
Example
His despicable actions shocked the entire community.
Ses actions méprisables ont choqué toute la communauté.
C1 verb /dɪˈplɔːr/

deplore

déplorer
Meaning
to feel or express strong disapproval of something; to regret deeply
Example
Many people deplore the violence shown on television.
Beaucoup de gens déplorent la violence montrée à la télévision.
C1 noun /dɪˈlɪriəm/

delirium

délire
Meaning
An acutely disturbed state of mind characterized by restlessness, illusions, and incoherence.
Example
The patient experienced delirium after the surgery due to the strong medication.
Le patient a éprouvé un délire après la chirurgie en raison des médicaments forts.
C1 verb /dɪˈsɛnt/

dissent

désapprouver
Meaning
To hold or express opinions that are different from those officially accepted.
Example
Several members dissented from the majority decision.
Plusieurs membres ont exprimé un désaccord avec la décision majoritaire.
C1 adjective ˈdɔːn.tɪŋ

daunting

intimidant ou difficile
Meaning
Something that seems intimidating or challenging.
Example
The task seemed daunting, but she completed it successfully.
La tâche semblait intimidante, mais elle l'a terminée avec succès.
C1 adjective /dɪˈspɪrɪtɪd/

dispirited

abattu
Meaning
Having lost enthusiasm, hope, or confidence; dejected.
Example
After losing the match, the team looked dispirited.
Après avoir perdu le match, l'équipe semblait abattue.
C1 noun ˈdɪl.ɪ.dʒəns

diligence

diligence
Meaning
Careful and persistent work or effort.
Example
Success requires patience and diligence.
Le succès nécessite de la patience et de la diligence.
C1 noun dɛkˈstɛr.ɪ.ti

dexterity

dextérité
Meaning
Skill in performing tasks, especially with the hands; mental skill or adroitness.
Example
His dexterity in playing the piano amazed the audience.
Sa dextérité à jouer du piano a étonné le public.
C1 noun /ˈdeɪˌbreɪk/

daybreak

aurore
Meaning
The time in the morning when daylight first appears; dawn.
Example
They set out on their journey at daybreak.
Ils ont commencé leur voyage à l'aube.
C1 noun /ˈdæɡ.ər/

Dagger

dague
Meaning
a short knife with a pointed blade used as a weapon
Example
The ancient warrior carried a silver dagger.
Le guerrier ancien portait une dague en argent.
C1 adjective /dɪˈvɔɪd/

devoid

vide
Meaning
Completely lacking or without something.
Example
His speech was devoid of any real emotion.
Son discours était vide de toute émotion réelle.
C1 noun /ˈdɛsɪˌbɛl/

decibel

décibel
Meaning
a unit used to measure the intensity of sound
Example
The noise level in the factory exceeded 90 decibels.
Le niveau de bruit dans l'usine a dépassé 90 décibels.
C1 noun /dɪˈmiːnər/

demeanour

comportement
Meaning
a person's outward behavior or appearance
Example
Her calm demeanour impressed everyone during the meeting.
Son comportement calme a impressionné tout le monde lors de la réunion.
C1 noun /ˈdɒktrɪn/

doctrine

doctrine
Meaning
A set of beliefs or principles held and taught by a religious, political, or other group.
Example
The church follows a strict doctrine on moral values.
L'église suit une doctrine stricte sur les valeurs morales.
C1 adjective /dɪˈsɪd.ju.əs/

deciduous

décidu
Meaning
Referring to trees that shed their leaves seasonally, typically in autumn.
Example
Oak and maple trees are deciduous, shedding leaves in autumn.
Les chênes et les érables sont des arbres décidues, perdant leurs feuilles en automne.
C1 adjective /daɪər/

Dire

grave; urgent; terrible
Meaning
extremely serious; urgent; terrible
Example
The country is facing a dire economic crisis.
Le pays fait face à une grave crise économique.
C1 noun ˌdiː.sen.trə.laɪˈzeɪ.ʃən

decentralization

décentralisation
Meaning
The transfer of authority from central to local government.
Example
Decentralization promotes regional autonomy.
La décentralisation favorise l'autonomie régionale.
C1 adjective /dɪsˈdʒɔɪntɪd/

disjointed

désorganisé
Meaning
Lacking order, coherence, or connection; disconnected.
Example
The movie felt disjointed and hard to follow.
Le film semblait désorganisé et difficile à suivre.
C1 adjective /ˌdaɪəˈbɒlɪkəl/

diabolical

diabolique
Meaning
Wicked, cruel, or outrageously bad; resembling the devil.
Example
The dictator’s diabolical rule brought misery to the nation.
Le régime diabolique du dictateur a apporté la misère à la nation.
C1 noun /ˈdaʊn.pɔːr/

Downpour

pluie battante; averse soudaine
Meaning
a heavy fall of rain; a sudden heavy rainfall
Example
The sudden downpour caught everyone off guard and soaked the outdoor event.
La pluie battante soudaine a pris tout le monde au dépourvu et a trempé l'événement extérieur.
C1 noun /ˈdɛmənˌstreɪtər/

demonstrator

démonstrateur, manifestant
Meaning
a person who shows how something works or takes part in a public protest
Example
The demonstrators marched peacefully through the city streets.
Les manifestants ont défilé pacifiquement dans les rues de la ville.
C1 adjective /dɪsˈkwaɪətɪŋ/

disquieting

inquiétant
Meaning
Causing worry, unease, or anxiety.
Example
The news report was deeply disquieting to the public.
Le rapport de nouvelles était profondément inquiétant pour le public.
C1 noun ˌdɛɡrəˈdeɪʃən

degradation

dégradation
Meaning
The condition or process of degrading or being degraded.
Example
Soil degradation due to overuse is a growing issue.
La dégradation des sols due à une utilisation excessive est un problème croissant.
C1 verb /dɪˈteɪn/

detain

détenir
Meaning
to keep someone from proceeding; to hold back, especially by official authority
Example
The police detained the suspect for questioning.
La police a détenu le suspect pour l'interroger.
C1 noun /ˌdiːˈmer.ɪt/

Demerit

fauté; inconvénient; marque pour une faute ou une infraction
Meaning
a fault or disadvantage; a mark given for a fault or offense
Example
The student received a demerit for arriving late to class repeatedly.
L'étudiant a reçu un démérite pour être arrivé en retard en classe à plusieurs reprises.
C1 noun /ˈdɪsɪdənt/

dissident

dissident
Meaning
A person who opposes official policy, especially that of an authoritarian state.
Example
The dissident was arrested for speaking against the government.
Le dissident a été arrêté pour avoir parlé contre le gouvernement.
C1 verb /diːˈfjuːz/

defuse

désamorcer
Meaning
To make a situation less dangerous, tense, or explosive; to remove a fuse from a bomb.
Example
The negotiator helped defuse the tense situation.
Le négociateur a aidé à désamorcer la situation tendue.
C1 verb /dɪˈraɪd/

deride

ridiculiser
Meaning
to mock or ridicule someone or something
Example
The critics derided the new movie for its poor script.
Les critiques ont ridiculisé le nouveau film pour son mauvais scénario.